Friday, January 23, 2009

The Content of They're Character

Fox News must have threatened Wan Julliams with the same severance package it gave Alan Colmes, because Wan's working overtime on another Murdoch organ to inoculate his pale pals on the right against criticism:

Several seasons ago, when Philadelphia Eagle's black quarterback Donovan McNabb was struggling, radio commentator Rush Limbaugh said the media wanted a black quarterback to do well and gave Mr. McNabb "a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn't deserve." Mr. Limbaugh's sin was saying out loud what others had said privately.

There is a lot more at stake now, and to allow criticism of Mr. Obama only behind closed doors does no honor to the dreams and prayers of generations past: that race be put aside, and all people be judged honestly, openly, and on the basis of their performance.

I'm happy to judge Wan's performance as a journalist on his inability to punctuate correctly. And his ability to spout right-wing talking points on cue.

In the five-plus years since Rush Limbaugh uttered those words, the Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback has:

-- Passed for 19,151 yards and thrown 155 touchdowns in 77 regular season games.-- Has a 6-3 record in the NFL playoffs.-- Reached the NFC title game three times.-- Gone to one Super Bowl.

His teammates must be tired of carrying him all these years.

Not only that, McNabb's never bought drugs illegally from his maid, destroyed his own hearing, gotten his ass fired for displaying bigotry, gone on sex tours to the Third World or spent a lonely Friday night hand-washing the unmentionables of his ugly stepbrothers, Fred Barnes and Charles Krauthammer.

I'm off to find Wan's similar column chiding "the media" giving Geo. Bush "a free pass for screw-ups, lies or failure to keep a promise." Don't wait up for me.